The Maryland Society of Surveyors has announced that Congressman John Delaney (D-MD) will deliver the keynote address to open its Fall Conference on Friday, October 17. As a member of the House Financial Services Committee, Rep. Delaney has oversight of the FEMA flood insurance program, including map modernization and elevation certificates, all of which are important to surveyors. He has also introduced innovative legislation, H.R. 2084, the "Partnership to Build America Act of 2013," as a means of rebuilding America’s Infrastructure. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) grades America's infrastructure a D+ and estimated some $3.6 trillion will be needed by 2020 just to maintain our current roads, bridges, airports, ports, water systems and other infrastructure, not to mention expand and build new facilities. All of this would create considerable demand for surveying services and jobs for surveyors. Rep. Delaney will discuss his bill, how it raises revenue without raising taxes, and how it would use public-private partnerships (P3s) to fund infrastructure projects. The conference is October 16 – 18 at the Hilton Hotel in Gaithersburg, MD. more